Making Daycare a Smoke-Free Zone

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure if this it the forum to post this in, but my son recently started at a daycare in Brentwood. It's in a strip mall that has a Social Security Office. There is a line in the morning that waits for the SS office to open, and we often find people smoking while they wait.

I'm trying to see if there is any way I can make the area a tobacco free zone as there are so many kids that walk past them every single morning. Does anyone know the process or the governing body I should speak to?

Thank you so much for your help!

[Anonymous]

There probably already is a law as to how close to the building you can smoke. The real issue is enforcement, which I suspect is not going to happen.

[Anonymous]

OP here: According to the administration, there isn't. There aren't even any signs up.

[Anonymous]

Here's a link summarizing Maryland's Clean Indoor Air Act: http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/health/PGCHI/Air%20Quality/Clean%20Indoor%20Air%20Act/Pages/default.aspx. If you have any questions, you should contact the relevant PG County office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There probably already is a law as to how close to the building you can smoke. The real issue is enforcement, which I suspect is not going to happen.

In some states, yes, but it does not appear that Maryland is one of those states.

[Anonymous]

Sorry I should have specified, Brentwood, the neighborhood in DC.

[Anonymous]

Looks like you could try calling the DC Dept of Health's Tobacco Control Program to ask about this: [phone]. http://doh.dc.gov/service/smoke-free-and-tobacco-laws

[Anonymous]

Why don't you try to contact the manager of the strip mall? Some properties will put a blue line or zone outside of building entrances so that smokers smoke away from the entrances to offices. I suspect it would have to be a voluntary measure by the property owner, there is no law requiring that they do it.